Guard for tires.



U. R. SAUNDERS & A. B.- BREITWEG.

GURD FOB. TIRES. APPLIOATIQN FILED PEB. 21', '1907.

' Patented Deo.8,1908.

'narran srarns rarafar orare.

CHAR-Ll R. SAUNDERS AND ANTON B. BREITWEG, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.v

@unan ron Trans.

Specification ol Letters Patent Patented Dec. s, 190s;

Application led February 21. 19W?. Serial No. 358,5Q6.

To all luie/om 'Lt'mfg/ concern.'

- Be it ,known that we, "tnnnilns lt. SAU nnnsand ANTON B. Bnurrutne, citicens ol the l l l l United States, residing at Cleveland, in the E countyy of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,V have tectingtires of vehicles, suchasthe pneumatic tires that are employed with automo-l biles, and has :for its object to provide a device of this kind `which may be readily applied to and removed-from the tire; which will possess v sullieient flexibility to compensate for the ithrust produced on the individual members thereof when encountering the road bed or obstacles, and which will possessl resiliency in itself. aside from the tire to which it may be applied. VVe'accomplish these results by the construction illustrated in the drawings forming a part hereof, described in the speciiication and embodied in its essential combinations in the clainls hereto annexed.

.In the drawings, .Figure l represents a side elevation of a` portion of the felly and tire of a vehicle Wheel, showing the manner of applying our protecting device thereto. Fig. 2 represents a transverse sectional vieu' on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

elements or plates of our guard; and Fig. 4 isa plan view representing a pair of the elements or plates, the rubber tread being omitted fro'n oneI of the same to illustrate theV 3 denotes our guard or protecting device,

the same being shown in Figs. l and 2 as applied to the exterior surface of the tire. This protecting device is composed generally of a number of elements or plates 4, the same being oined by means of links to forni a continuous articulated guard for the tire. Each 4iftheseplates comprises a body 5 which is generally convexe-concave in cross'seelion, the concave innersurface of said body conforming generally to the contour of the tire with Which the same is to be used and having)T y I 3 represtuils a lon- -gitudinal sectional View through one of the integral side flanges (l, '.so shaped. as to engage a considerable portion of each side ofthe tiro and thus assist in preventing an sideslippingy of the guard with respect to t 1e tire.

The body of each of the plates 4 is preferably of metal and is provided, intermediate the. sides and ends thereof, Withthe frame or grid? for the reception of a rubber tread piece 8. ln order to retain this tread piece in position, the grid or frame 7 'ns constructed as follows r-,The frame is generally rectangular in outline, having sides 8" and ends 9 formed by integral flanges and preferably cast with the body of the plate or element 5.

suitable number of transverse ribs connectey The central transverse ribs are ing` sides 8'. spaced a sullicient distance apart to receive therebetween the strap l2 by which each ele nient i. fastened -to the felly.

rl`he purpose of constructing the grid or frame is to enable the rubber, in a molten or plastic `condition, to be inserted thereinto and, when vulcanized, to be retained in place therein. To provide vsuitable means for retaining the rubber in place, We taper the ribs and the side and end flanges of tne framein such manner as to form a plurality of pockets, the wid th whereof increases from the top to the bottom thereof, as indicated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. As Will appear from the former ligure, the upper inner ends of and flanges S and 9 which, when thetread has been vulcanized int-o the grid, will tend to retain the same firmly in place. ther assist in maintaining the tread. in place, suitable apertures i3 are n'ovided in ribs 1l, preferably between the longitudinal rib 10 and the side flanges S, and similar perforations 14 are )rovided in rib l() between the ribs l1 and flanges (J. "Furthermore, the bottom of the plate 5 is arched upwardly to form a concavity 15 beneath the grid poi-tion thereof which corresponds generally in contour with the contour of the tire. 4

i6 denotes a plurality of apertures in the bottom of the plate intermediate of the transverse ribs ll and on both sides ofthe central These apertures may be ol the shape rib l0.

etween said ribs and the end ertures 13,14 and 16. the tread will be iirm strap`l2 by means of which the plates or elesubstitute therefor canbeinserted and re-v moved Iafter vulcanization',v to permit the inflocking engagement between thetread and the metallic Flats 5. At the'same time, the

.spread out therein. It will be apparent `each plate or element there may be'emplyg l pletelyffill the *cavity individual elements is disclosed in Figs. 3

A22 in the space between plurality of plates or members iiexibly congrid comprising a frainehaving sides and ends i and ribs extending shtml it rig. 4, ad their object is to permit the softened or molten rubber which is placed into the grid to flow into the cavity 15 and be at, bythe provision of this cavity and aplocked in place Within the grid when vuls canized therein. d The longitudinal rib 10 and the side flanges 8a are provided, about midway thereof, with apertures 17 and; 18 respectively of such width and height `as to accommodate rthe ments arefastened to the tire and fellyj y If. desired, the. strap may be inse'rted in place, before vulcanization or a removable sertion of the strap into the apertures.` With a lining 1 9 of rubber or similar materi prevent direct contact between the said plate orelement and fthevtire. Therubber owing through the 'apertures 16 will com- 15 below. the body of the plate 5, as shown at 20,and forma secure portion 20 o the-tread prevents the edges of thecavity 15.*rom bearing a aipstthe 'ti'ie and forms a cushion between tie-plate 4 'and the tire, thus prolonging the life of the tire. The linin 9 revents the outer portions of the late rom earin against the tire. The rub er treads 8 may e provided with transverse grooves 21 to prevent slipv between the tread and the road bed or pavement.

A convenient manner of connectin the and 4. This means comprises integral lugs the'. ends of the frame and the ends of the plate, the lu i being each provided with an elon lated slgit 23 therein for the rece tion of a bo t 24.

25 denotes a lin adapted to be insertedbetween the lugs of adjacent lates or elements and rovided with circullar a ertures theretliroug 1 for the reception of the olts 24.

By reason of the elongation of the slots 23, the guard is rendered exible, rovision being made thereby for sonic relative movement of one guard plate with respect to anothei on the impact cia plate withthe road bed or pavement.

' We claim:

1. A guard for vehicle tires comprising -a plurality of plates or members ieX l said bottom into said cavity, p tread in said frame and'having a portion in plurality of base plates nected, each of said plates or members comprising a base, a gri( i'ormed therewith, said transversely thereof and connecting said sides, the upper portions of said ribs, sides and ends' overhanging the i lower ortions ther'eof, and a yielding tread in sai grid, substantially as specific 2. A guard for vehicle tires compbrising a i ly connected, eachof said plates or members having a base and a grid integral therewith, said grid comprising a frame having sides and ends, and ribs or partitions extending longitudinally and transversely of said frame and provided with apertures therethrough, and a resilient tread in said grid interlockin with said apertures, substantially as spec' ed.

3. A guard for vehicle tires, com rismg a frames, bolts extending through said links.

and the elongated slots 1n the lugs and yielding treads in said frames prolecting outwardly beyond said lugs.'

4. A guard for vehicle tires' comprising'a plurality of base plates flexibly connected,

each of said plates having thereon a Jframe and said frame having beneath the bottom thereof an outwardly projectin cavity with one or more apertures exten and a resilient said cavity adapted to form a cushionfor the tire and connectedwith the main portion of the tread thro`u h the aperture or apertures inthe bottom o? said frame, substantially as specified. d

5. A guard for vehicle tires comprisinga flexibly connected, each of said lates having thereonv a tframe provided witi one or more apertured ribs vconnecting .opposite portionsv thereof and 'having an a ertiired bottom provided withan outwardy projecting cavit and silient tread-in said framel an( said cavity having its different portions connected through the said` apertures, substantially as specified. y

6. A guard forvehicle tires comprising a pluralityl of iexibly-connected plates each iaving a frame provided with apertured transverse and longitudinal'ribs therein, and a resilient tread insaidl frame having its various portions interlocked through the iprrturesin said ribs, substantially as speciier.

lntestimony whereof, We hereunto aflix .our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES R. SAUNDERS. ANTON B. BREl'l/VEG.. Witnesses: v l

' J. B. HULL,

NATHAN F. Fiin'iTEN mg through `plurality of plates or members le'xi ly con- 

